First of all, I’m really glad I didn’t drop the series. Ngl, the first season was sleep inducing compared to the other two. But, trust me, just stick around, stick around to the end, bear it because season 2 and 3 are way better. In the first season the humor was lanky, characters constantly do stupid things, and the world building wasn’t good enough, sub plots was boringly executed, inconsistent/ ooc character actions, umm and the creepy incest. Not that these problems don’t recur in the following seasons but there is so much improvement.
For me, the first 4 or 5 episodes is still the best of Bungou stray dogs, it really pulled me in. The grit was genuine and the stakes were higher. Oda was a great character perfectly suited for that arc and to help us understand about Daz’s past (albeit only a little). After that well, the story was back into the main plot, although not a masterpiece but it’s actually entertaining.
There are obviously many problems with the show. For example, the pacing. The pacing is very erratic in the show, not giving enough time to develop certain events for the audience to connect. It’s very evident that the creators were trying to stack the given content into the 12 episodes so the second part of any season is usually very fast paced. Things happen quickly moving from A to B to C, not giving enough time to comprehend but it still keeps you on the edge. Not that it’s unpredictable.
Which leads to an issue in BSD is that you never feel any real tension. Not once have I seen any members of the PM actually being able to manage to intimidate the ADA. Whether it’s Chuuya, Akutagawa, or anyone they mostly gets their ass whooped in first encounter by the ADA, just making them look stupid. Are they really scary or even powerful? Because they’re never given the justice to how they’re raised to be. I think Akutagawa needs a break. He’s so frightened by all, yet he’ll be the first one to loose or always get outsmarted. HE almost lost to 14 year old Kyouka ffs. I’m starting think if Daz is actually right that this guy isn’t strong. I still like him though, compared to our main protagonist Atsushi who always feels inadequate like a loser every single time but from the get go he’s a pro. I can’t root for the protagonist because he always cries about everything but ultimately wins in any situation even if it’s the first time.
The characters are usually strong as long as the plot requires it. Sometimes they’re OP, and sometimes they forget that they have such incredible powers. And although by logic they shouldn’t be able to defeat the villains, they’ll most likely loose because err they’re on the bad side. Most of the dramatic situations are avoidable if people used brains. Be it the guild, or PM or ADA, there are many scenes where the characters are stupid that for illogical reasons they abandoned the crew or don’t fight in certain situations. It seems brilliant but it’s quite dumb actually. If you’re powerful why not fight together?
The powers or abilities and the world building is one of the weakest points of BSD. There is no clear picture as to how one gets abilities, how does the general public view it, or its limitations. I guess, it makes it easier to do ass pulls and powerups when the plot needs it if it’s that way.
But it’s not a very serious show. I don’t know if it wants to be. I never took it serious. You know that none will ever die or get injured, as long as the plot doesn’t want it. One guy I tell you, he was literally 2 feet apart from a suicide bomber during explosion, but he doesn’t have a fucking scratch on him, wow. Wow.
Daz gets shot from behind, but there is absolutely no blood stains on his back and he only bleeds in the front. His coat was looking as shiny and new after getting shot. Atsushi turns into this insane flash hero that even eludes high tech sensors but doesn’t use it to chase a criminal who is 1 meter away from running away in a tow cart. Powers have absolutely no explanation as I said before, you’ll get to see characters pulls new tricks out of thin air as needed by the plot. Cool. Daz just never loses anything so and is a master manipulator who has manipulated the big manipulator and basically it’ll always be a happy ending. I don’t mind it but the show tried to make me look dumb into thinking that things are actually serious.
BSD is not a bad show by any means, it’s a good show. It’s nicely written and keeps you engaged. If you can make it past the cringe comedy and snooze fest in first season, it gets good from there. There are many unanswered questions and mysteries yet to know so it’s worth looking forward to the continuation.
P.S. Fyodor is awesome.
